New ESPN analyst Tim Tebow not ready to give up on NFL dream

Former New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow passes against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter Aug. 29 in Foxborough, Mass.

Tim Tebow wants to keep his dream of playing quarterback in the NFL alive. However, with each passing day, his dream looks less likely to become reality.

The former Florida and Nease phenom quarterback largely sidestepped questions Tuesday from reporters regarding the lack of interest the NFL has in him. Tebow participated in a conference call to promote his new job, being a college football analyst for ESPN’s SEC Network, which launches in August. ESPN announced Monday it had signed Tebow to a multiyear contract but did include a statement that his role with ESPN “will not preclude him from continuing to pursue playing opportunities in the NFL.”

“I try not to worry about what I can’t control,” Tebow said. “I know I’ve said that statement a lot, but it’s very true. I try to focus on becoming a better quarterback and athlete. Being ready for whenever a team gave me a call.”

Whether another call will come Tebow’s way is in question. The 26-year-old Tebow was released by New England in the final cuts of the preseason on Aug. 31 and was not with a team during the regular season. He threw eight passes as a member of the New York Jets in the 2012 season.

“Who knows what the next few months will hold,” Tebow said. “I’ll continue to train to be the best quarterback that I can be. I have been training very hard over the course of the last few months five days a week. I feel like I’m the best that I’ve ever been as a quarterback right now. I hope I get the opportunity to show that.”

Tebow helped lead the Gators to two national championships (2006 and 2008) and became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007. ESPN described the Jacksonville native as “an SEC icon” when it announced his hiring.

Denver selected him in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 25th-overall pick. Tebow led the Broncos to the AFC West title and a playoff win over Pittsburgh in his second season. He was then traded to the Jets after Denver signed Peyton Manning.

Tebow’s career completion percentage in the NFL is 47.9 and his accuracy issues are considered his biggest weakness. He has thrown for 17 touchdowns to nine interceptions and ran for 989 yards and 12 scores.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Tebow said. “Every time I stepped on the field for practice or a game, I gave everything I had. If given the opportunity to continue my dream of being a quarterback in the NFL, I will approach it the exact same way. Being a little bit better and working on making my weaknesses my strengths and my strengths just a little bit stronger.”

Tebow’s primary role with ESPN will be as an analyst on “SEC Nation,” a traveling pregame show originating at different SEC campuses each week. Tebow’s first appearance on that show will be Aug. 28 when Texas A&M travels to South Carolina.

However, ESPN isn’t waiting that long to debut Tebow.

His first on-air appearance will be on Monday during pregame coverage of the national championship game between Florida State and Auburn.